Review: For me, however, it is Gibbs’ choice of “special guest” artist that really makes the date. Hubert Laws should be in the Down Beat Hall of Fame. Call me prejudiced if you wish, (I am a flutist!), but there is no performer who has gained more complete mastery of his instrument and the jazz idiom. But because the instrument in question is the flute rather than the trumpet or the saxophone, he is not well known to many jazz lovers. True, some of his own recordings have not been too well received by critics, but if you seek out his work as a sideman with McCoy Tyner, Milt Jackson, Ron Carter, Victor Feldman and a host of others, you will hear solos that are breathtaking in their technical mastery, harmonic sophistication and melodic inventiveness. He is also one of the handful of artists who are equally proficient in jazz and classical performance–which is evident across the board in the sound he draws from the instrument. He has a Lifetime Achievement award from the National Flute Association and flute players are generally in awe of him! If you have not heard Laws’ work this is as good a place as any to start as he gets plenty of solo space on every track. (If you like what you hear there is a discography of his work in my forthcoming book The Flute In Jazz.)

Tracks: 1. Bernie’s Tune 2. Wednesday at Two 3. Findin’ the Groove 4. But Not For Me 5. Teach Me Tonight 6. Killer Joe 7. Dance With The Brushes 8. Samba Wazoo 9. The House That Might Have Been 10. Four Brothers 11. Take My Blues Away 12. Wee 13. One Minute And 45 Seconds To Station Break